Overview
Background
RESEARCH INTERESTS Fire Ecology, Restoration Ecology, Ecological Genomics, Wildlife Science, Conservation Biology, Invasive Plants
My research group studies fire ecology and conservation biology. Currently, we are working on:
- Using fire to benefit plant biodiversity and manage invasive plants
- Predicting effects of changing fire regimes on plant-animal interactions
- Native grassland restoration
- Biodiversity in agricultural landscapes
We have a special interest in plants and animals living in fire-prone areas because of the fascinating fact that these ecosystems are never static but continually re-shaped by cycles of fire and regeneration. While being grounded in fundamental biology and ecological theory, our research is always aimed at improving knowledge for biodiversity conservation. Our work has applications in fire management, biological invasion and threatened species conservation.
TECHNICAL APPROACHES: POPULATION GENETICS | SPATIAL LANDSCAPE GENETICS | DEMOGRAPHIC SIMULATION MODELLING | STATISTICAL MODELLING OF POPULATIONS & COMMUNITIES | BIOINFORMATICS | SPATIAL ANALYSIS IN R | We also know how to drop a hand-made 1 x 1 m polypipe quadrat on the ground and do good old-fashioned field work.
TEACHING: I teach ecology, wildlife science and environmental science at UQ. My teaching and coordination activities have included Elements of Ecology (AGRC1032), Wildlife Technology (ANIM3018) and People Fire & Environment (ENVM3215 / ENMV7530).
EDITORIAL I am Associate Editor for Wildlife Letters (2023–)
I was Associate Editor for Journal of Applied Ecology for four years (2018–2022).
CURRICULUM VITAE
- 2019 – current Lecturer, University of Queensland
- 2018 – 2022 Associate Editor, Journal of Applied Ecology
- 2018 – 2019 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Research Fellow, Trinity College Dublin
- 2016 – 2017 Post-doctoral Research Fellow, Trinity College Dublin
- 2015 – 2016 Post-doctoral Research Assistant, University of Melbourne
- 2015 – 2016 Self-employed Consultant Ecologist, Canberra
- 2012 – 2014 Post-doctoral Research Fellow, Australian National University
EDUCATION
2012 PhD in Ecology, Australian National University
2006 BSc in Biodiversity Conservation Honours, Flinders University
2005 BSc in Biodiversity Conservation, Flinders University
Availability
- Dr Annabel Smith is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Conservation and Biodiversity, Flinders University
- Bachelor (Honours) of Conservation and Biodiversity, Flinders University
- Doctor of Philosophy of Ecology, Australian National University
Research interests
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INVASIVE SPECIES
Invasive plants pose one of the biggest threats to ecosystems, along with climate change, changing fire regimes and habitat loss. In my lab, we have a particular interest in the population genetics and biology of invasive plants. We are also investigating how invasive plants and fire regimes interact. Does increasing fire frequency give invasive plants greater opportunity for spread? Does it make them more tolerant to fire over time? Answering these questions has important implications for invasive species control and fire management.
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FIRE ECOLOGY
Fire ecology is a central theme in my research group and we work on both plants and animals, at the community, population and genetic level. Some of our current projects include the influence of fire on plant-animal interactions and interactions between invasive plants and changing fire regimes. Results of this research are made available to decision makers to assist in managing fire for biodiversity and for the preservation of healthy communities.
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CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
My research group has a strong focus on biodiversity conservation, with our work being under-pinned by a strong drive to conserve the incredible diversity of plant and animal species in Australia. We use both field-based approaches and genetic data to make discoveries about what affects biodiversity and also how best to manage landscapes to conserve biodiversity.
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WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
We study wildlife management in mixed-use landscapes of in south-east Queensland across where agriculture, nature conservation and urban areas influence the distribution of species and ecosystem processes. We aim to provide new knowledge that can help decision makers and practitioners conserve native wildlife.
Works
Search Professor Annabel Smith’s works on UQ eSpace
2009
Journal Article
Genotypes and nematode infestations in an endangered lizard, Tiliqua adelaidensis
Bull, C. Michael, Smith, Annabel, Gardner, Michael and Fenner, Aaron (2009). Genotypes and nematode infestations in an endangered lizard, Tiliqua adelaidensis. Applied Herpetology, 6 (3), 300-305. doi: 10.1163/157075408x386150
2008
Journal Article
Tiliqua rugosa microsatellites: isolation via enrichment and characterisation of loci for multiplex PCR in T-rugosa and the endangered T-adelaidensis
Gardner, Michael G., Sanchez, Juan J., Dudaniec, Rachael Y., Rheinberger, Leah, Smith, Annabel L. and Saint, Kathleen M. (2008). Tiliqua rugosa microsatellites: isolation via enrichment and characterisation of loci for multiplex PCR in T-rugosa and the endangered T-adelaidensis. Conservation Genetics, 9 (1), 233-237. doi: 10.1007/s10592-007-9316-0
2008
Journal Article
Observations of snake predation on the pygmy bluetongue lizard, Tiliqua adelaidensis
Fenner, A. L., Schofield, J. A., Smith, A. L. and Bull, C. M. (2008). Observations of snake predation on the pygmy bluetongue lizard, Tiliqua adelaidensis. Herpetofauna.
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Annabel Smith is:
- Available for supervision
Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.
Available projects
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Managing interactions between fire regimes and invasive plants
A long history of fire has shaped many ecosystems globally, but thousands of species are now threatened with extinction because climate change, inappropriate management and invasive plants are rapidly changing fire regimes. Effective fire management is more complex than simply re- instating a historical fire regime because ecosystems might require a specific initial management regime (e.g. more frequent burning) to re-establish native plant communities and increase their resilience to future invasion. In this project, we will establish an evidence-based management framework for grassy woodlands of southeast Queensland, by evaluating how variation in fire frequency affects the composition and function of native plant communities.
Available student projects
- How do different fire regimes affect plant community composition and the balance between native and exotic species?
- How do different fire regimes affect animal (mammal & invertebrate) community composition and key demographic parameters?
- Does genetic structure and genetic diversity of native and invasive plant species change under different fire regimes?
This project is a collaboration with Dr Shane Campbell.
Funding is available for the running costs of this project and we are accepting applications for honours and PhD projects. Students with a strong academic track record, wishing to pursue PhD studies, can apply for the competitive UQ Graduate School Scholarship.
Please contact me (annabel.smith@uq.edu.au) if you would like to be involved!
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Managing agricultural landscapes to maximise insectivore ecosystem services
Pest control costs agricultural industries several billion dollars per year in loss of productivity and direct control costs (McLeod 2016). In Australia for example, farmers spend $25 billion per year on pest control, including insect pests and weeds (Bradshaw et al. 2021). At the same time, biodiversity in farming landscapes is declining (Ward et al. 2022; Ward et al. 2019), and this is accompanied by a decline in the ecosystem services provided by animals such as pest control, nutrient cycling, pollination and seed dispersal (Dangles & Casas 2019; Kremen & Chaplin-Kramer 2007). Healthy, functioning ecosystems containing a broad range of insectivores play a substantial role in pest control as widely documented in North America, Europe (Maine & Boyles 2015; Naranjo et al. 2015; Puig-Montserrat et al. 2020) and Africa (Bohmann et al. 2011; Noer et al. 2012). These services contribute hundreds of billions of dollars annually to the global economy (Porto et al. 2020). Far less research has been conducted on insectivore ecosystem services in Australia, meaning it is still unclear how to optimise key habitat features that support these services while also maximising agricultural productivity (Lentini et al. 2012). For example, many native insectivores are hollow-dependent, but the optimal density of hollow bearing trees in a cropping landscape needed to maintain a full complement of foraging guilds for pollination and pest reduction is unknown. Previous work has found that the maintenance of 30% natural vegetation in the landscape can support bird communities that provide essential ecosystem services for agriculture (Simmonds et al. 2019). However, it is unknown if similar thresholds apply to other pest control agents such as insectivorous bats.
In this study, we aim to compare farming systems (organic vs conventional) and their landscape context (configuration of native vegetation) on the assemblage of insectivore pest controllers in an important farming region of eastern Australia.
Available student projects
- What is the threshold of native vegetation cover required for healthy bat communities?
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Which farming practices related to pesticide use lead to more functionally diverse insectivorous vertebrate/bat communities?
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A diversity of bat foraging guilds will provide the greatest pest control benefits?
This project is a collaboration with Dr April Reside.
Funding is available for the running costs of this project and we are accepting applications for honours and PhD projects. Students with a strong academic track record, wishing to pursue PhD studies, can apply for the competitive UQ Graduate School Scholarship.
Please contact me (annabel.smith@uq.edu.au) if you would like to be involved!
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Master Philosophy
Effects of fire frequency and weed management on biodiversity in grassy woodlands
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Shane Campbell
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Doctor Philosophy
The influence of changing fire regimes on fire-dependent plant-animal interactions
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr April Reside
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Doctor Philosophy
The influence of management practices and landscape context on insect communities in agricultural landscapes
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Critical foraging habitat of the Grey-headed flying fox in Queensland and its diet in the Toowoomba region
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Lee McMichael, Dr April Reside
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Doctor Philosophy
Ecosystem services of aerial insectivores in agricultural landscapes
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Michael Furlong, Dr April Reside
Completed supervision
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Platypus populations in a subtropical, urban landscape: An analysis of distribution, habitat, and connectivity.
Principal Advisor
Media
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